Free Online Services Now Requiring Licences.

Recently BBC has announced that you will require a TV licence to use the BBC iPlayer App from September 1st. The iPlayer app was first released back in 2007 and was an instant hit with the public domain. However since they scrapped showing BBC Three on standard broadcast Television we as the younger generation have all been drawn to watching it on the iPlayer app. This is where the issue of TV licences comes in to play. We are being forced to watch a TV channel online which means we will need a TV licence this does also cover any forms of catch-up as well.

Our understanding when you get a TV licence is that it applies to only live TV broadcasts. Well I’m sure that the iPlayer was only used to help consumers catch-up on TV shows that have already been broadcasted? it has been explained to reduce any confusion of the now law “a change in the law means you need to be covered by a TV Licence to download or watch BBC programmes on demand – including catch-up TV – on BBC iPlayer. This applies to all devices.”

Now you might think there are ways of avoiding paying your TV licences which costs around £145 p/a, but with technology advancing beyond all vision, they don’t even need to come to your house to see if you have a TV licence. They can just drive past and send a Wi-Fi signal into your house and it will return the data information of which they require.

As you may already know the reason we pay for a TV licence is because all BBC Television does not have adverts throughout any show, whereas on other TV channels you have to battle with adverts (unless you use Sky+ and other providers and pause/catch-up) every 20mins of a film except if there is football where you are free from adverts for a whole 45 mins.

Personally I think BBC need to reconsider some of the applications they release. Too much change will in turn move consumers from their channel/shows. Evidently all the news that BBC get into does not help the cause. More and more people are turning to other subscriptions as they are bored of BBC repeating of shows that were in a way are available on the internet. If they put the consumer’s money to better use then the public will be more willing to abide by the new rules.

Here are some views of some consumers about the new law

So to conclude, the best way to know if you need a TV licences is this. “Are you using a TV?, is it live and/or is it provided by the BBC?’ if you have answered “Yes” to any of those questions, then you’ll need to get a licence.”